The Oracle City

Even though they knew this from their Shadow Guide's directions, they were still relieved to hear the confirmation from Jake. It had only taken them a few hours to get there, but they had been under pressure for months because of their Ordeal.

Besides, except for Tim and Crunch maybe, all of them were dead except Jake. It must have had an effect on their psyche. Their real bodies may have escaped unharmed, but the pain and experience was real.

Jake told them what he knew about the invisible Black Cube beneath and the Aether fee that was charged to enter the Oracle city. After completing an Ordeal, one Aether point was just pocket money to them, so no one flinched.

Jake then went down again, taking care to increase the number and depth of notches on the cliff so that everyone could go down without a problem. It probably wasn't necessary with the Black Cube underneath to intercept them, but it would be necessary to get back up the cliff.